CAS

Sunday, November 16, 2014

The Hill Giant Chief - Nosnra's Saga - Part 57

"I
saw him," said Gytha. "He was attacking that giant from behind. I saw
him stab its legs." She pointed to the headless corpse, a vast body lying
on its side, the ranger standing nearby leaning on his sword. The giant's head
rolled several feet away, wedged beneath a kitchen storage shelf.

"Harold,"
said the ranger, shaking himself, still recovering from the rage that had
overcome him. "Where is Harold?"

They
all began to look about the room. It took only a few moments for Ivo to find
the little thief, unconscious, a small crumpled form soaked in the giant's
gore. Gytha ran to his side, and the ranger crowded in beside them.

"Is
he all right?" asked Harald with a worried voice.

"All
this blood, I don't see a wound but I can't tell if any of it is his own,"
said Gytha. "He does have a lump on his head."

"Ow!'
the body spoke.

"Good,
maybe he has had some sense knocked into him at last," Harald said
relieved.

"What
was this the third or fourth giant you have attacked since we have come to the
steading, and that ogre. I thought you were a thief not an assassin."

"Shut-up,"
said Harold, "both of you. Gytha I don't mind seeing two of you but please
tell that fat old human to get out of sight. I'm feeling sick enough
already."

"Seeing
double eh," said Ivo. "That is quite some lump you have there."

"Gracious
Saint, this small one has your brave spirit," Gytha prayed. "Grant me
your power and your healing strength." She laid her hand atop his brow and
cupped his injured head with her other. A green pleasant light glowed across
his wounded head, like the sun seen through a canopy of leaves.

"I
suppose I will owe your order quite a tidy sum by the time we leave these
lands," said the little thief. He stretched and rubbed the back of his
head and yawned. "Can you do something about this mess?" he asked
holding up his blood covered hands.

*
* *

"Up
the stairs," Derue told the orcs. "Anyone who doesn't want to come
can stay behind."

"I
go," said Boss. "Most stay, go get others. We all go when you come
back."

"You
come with me then, tell them to guard those cells. Anything happens to my
brother and they will wish the giants had found them, understand."

"Yes,"
the orc nodded and then told the others what had been said.

*
* *

"What
a mess," said Harold. "Fire or no fire someone is going to come
stumbling in here and we can't hide these giants the way we could hide that
orc."

"Yes,
they won't fit down that garbage chute," said Ivo.

"We
need to get Talberth and Telenstil up from below," Gytha said glancing at
the opening over the pit.

"Harald,
if you please, can you pull them up?" asked Ivo.

"Sure,
but they better come up this time. Those cursed bags and that thrice cursed
chain could have waited till the last." The ranger unlaced the bags from
the end of the line and tossed the rope back down again, then waited for the
signal from below.

Appendix N

Appendix N: (From Gygax's DMG)

Inspirational And Educational Reading

Inspiration for all of the fantasy work I have done stems from the love my father showed when I was a lad, for he sent many hours telling me stories he made up as he went along, tales of cloaked old men who could grant wishes, of magic rings and enchanted swords, or wicked sorcerors and dauntless swordsmen. Then too, countless hundreds of comic books went down, and the long-gone EC ones certainly had their effect. Science fiction, fantasy, and horror movies were a big influence, in fact, all of us tend to get ample helpings of fantasy when we are very young, from fairy tales such as those written by the brothers Grimm and Andrew Lang. This often leads to reading books of mythology, paging through bestiaries, and consultation of compilations of the myths of various lands and peoples. Upon such a base I built my interest in fantasy, being an avid reader of all science fiction and fantasy literature since 1950. The following authors were of particular inspiration to me. In some cases I cite specific works, in others, I simply recommend all their fantasy writing to you. From such sources, as well as just about any other imaginative writing or screenplay you will be able to pluck kernels from which grow the fruits of exciting campaigns. Good reading!

Inspirational Reading:

Anderson, Poul. THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS; THE HIGH CRUSADE, The BROKEN SWORD

Moorcock, Michael. STORMBRINGER; STEALER OF SOULS; "Hawkmoon" Series (esp. the first three books)

Norton, Andre.

Offut, Andrew J., editor SWORDS AGAINST DARKNESS III

Pratt, Fletcher. BLUE STAR; et al.

Saberhagen, Fred. CHANGELING EARTH; et al.

St. Clair, Margaret. THE SHADOW PEOPLE; SIGN OF THE LABRYS

Tolkien, J.R.R. THE HOBBIT; "Ring Trilogy"

Vance, Jack. THE EYES OF THE OVERWORLD; THE DYING EARTH; et al.

Weinbaum, Stanley.

Wellman, Manly Wade.Williamson, Jack.

Zelazny, Roger. JACK OF SHADOWS; "Amber" Series; et al.

The most immediate influences upon AD&D were probably de Camp & Pratt, REH, Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance, HPL, and A. Merritt; but all the above authors, as well as many not listed, certainly helped to shape the form of the game. For ythis reason, and for the hours of reading enjoyment, I heartily recommend the works of these fine authors to you.